Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and Anaheim, CA Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and Anaheim, CA

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,719 per month in Austin, TX vs $3,298 in Anaheim, CA, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,117 per month in Austin, TX vs $4,798 in Anaheim, CA, rent included.

A family of three spends $5,515 per month in Austin, TX vs $6,298 in Anaheim, CA, rent included.

Austin, TX is about 18% cheaper than Anaheim, CA, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Austin, TX and Anaheim, CA sit above the global median – Austin, TX by 103%, Anaheim, CA by 146%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.99 $19.99

$20.06 $20.06

-0.35%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$76.2 $76.2

$78.9 $78.9

-3.41%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.13 $10.13

$14.90 $14.90

-32.01%

Cappuccino

$5.49 $5.49

$4.96 $4.96

10.69%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.72 $2.72

$2.74 $2.74

-0.73%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.14 $2.14

$1.97 $1.97

8.63%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.07 $6.07

$7.12 $7.12

-14.75%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.04 $8.04

$8.02 $8.02

0.25%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.09 $1.09

$1.16 $1.16

-6.03%

White Bread (500g)

$3.34 $3.34

$4.05 $4.05

-17.53%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.42 $3.42

$4.75 $4.75

-28.00%

Eggs

$4.32 $4.32

$5.72 $5.72

-24.48%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.80 $11.80

$12.34 $12.34

-4.38%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.68 $10.68

$10.87 $10.87

-1.75%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.50 $14.50

$14.29 $14.29

1.47%

Apples (1kg)

$4.79 $4.79

$4.61 $4.61

3.90%

Banana (1kg)

$1.50 $1.50

$1.94 $1.94

-22.68%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.51 $4.51

$4.06 $4.06

11.08%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.04 $4.04

$5.51 $5.51

-26.68%

Potato (1kg)

$2.76 $2.76

$3.28 $3.28

-15.85%

Onion (1kg)

$2.79 $2.79

$2.82 $2.82

-1.06%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.04 $2.04

$2.00 $2.00

2.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.15 $2.15

$2.10 $2.10

2.38%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.23 $9.23

$10.98 $10.98

-15.94%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.81 $14.81

$15.27 $15.27

-3.01%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.29 $2.29

$1.95 $1.95

17.44%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.53 $3.53

$3.56 $3.56

-0.84%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.52 $1.52

$2.03 $2.03

-25.12%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$43.64 $43.64

$70.1 $70.1

-37.75%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.29 $4.29

$3.68 $3.68

16.58%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.82 $1.82

$2.78 $2.78

-34.53%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$35.52 $35.52

$29.69 $29.69

19.64%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.77 $0.77

$1.28 $1.28

-39.84%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$25.6K $25.6K

$24.3K $24.3K

5.65%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$26.3K $26.3K

$24.5K $24.5K

7.26%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$172 $172

$159 $159

8.28%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$60.3 $60.3

$53.1 $53.1

13.67%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$67.2 $67.2

$60.4 $60.4

11.29%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$62.8 $62.8

$80.4 $80.4

-21.81%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$9.85 $9.85

$9.97 $9.97

-1.20%

Cinema Ticket

$14.73 $14.73

$14.88 $14.88

-1.01%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$1,398 $1,398

$1,204 $1,204

16.18%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$21.8K $21.8K

$23.6K $23.6K

-7.84%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.1 $55.1

$47.36 $47.36

16.41%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$45.66 $45.66

$34.61 $34.61

31.93%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.8 $86.8

$103 $103

-15.89%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$115 $115

$102 $102

13.01%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,245 $2,245

$2,222 $2,222

1.04%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,401 $1,401

$1,999 $1,999

-29.93%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,782 $3,782

$3,375 $3,375

12.07%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,708 $2,708

$3,296 $3,296

-17.84%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,304 $7,304

$7,275 $7,275

0.40%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,331 $3,331

$7,220 $7,220

-53.87%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,910 $4,910

$3,903 $3,903

25.81%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.45

6.58

-1.98%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Austin, TX: April 20, 2026

Last update for Anaheim, CA: April 20, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,245 in Austin, TX versus $2,222 in Anaheim, CA. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 26% higher in Austin, TX, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $76 in Austin, TX versus $79 in Anaheim, CA. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $375 vs $403 – making Austin, TX the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Austin, TX vs Anaheim, CA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Anaheim, CA costs about 21% more than Austin, TX, with the gap driven mainly by Getting Around. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,079 per month in Austin, TX and $4,947 in Anaheim, CA. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Austin, TX, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Groceries cost about 7% more in Anaheim, CA, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $76.0 in Austin, TX and $79.0 in Anaheim, CA. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

$2,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $2,719 in Austin, TX and $3,298 in Anaheim, CA. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Austin, TX costs $2,719 versus $3,298 in Anaheim, CA. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Austin, TX. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Anaheim, CA makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.